At 21, Mia Kelly has already made her mark on the folk music scene.

Praised for her expressive voice and versatility by outlets such as Great Dark Wonder and the Ottawa Citizen, she was described by Americana UK as “one to watch out for.” She was awarded Emerging Artist of the Year by Culture Outaouais and has represented Canada at the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie.

As a child, Kelly was very energetic, which led her parents to enrol her in musical theatre. There, she found her love for performing and being on stage, which inspired her to start taking singing lessons. It “unfurled” in high school, where she developed a passion for writing songs and for folk music.

Growing up in Gatineau, Quebec, Kelly speaks and sings in both French and English, something she does nt see as a conscious choice.

“It’s just how the songs come out” she said. “My life really happens in both languages, and so it would be really weird for me if I didn’t write in both languages.”

Kelly’s music is a mix of genres, ranging from folk to rock and to blues.

For her, inspiration is drawn naturally during the songwriting process. “It doesn’t really feel like I’m steering the ship,” she said. “I’m a conduit for the songs and that’s just how they come out.”

Kelly is proud of her career progress, noting that she now makes a living from music and tours successfully.

“I’m really proud of myself, I’ve been working at this for many years, and so to be at a point where I’m crossing the country, it’s my first headline tour this fall […] It’s just such an incredible thing to see, people that you’ve kind of built over the years all come out to see the show after so much work,” she reflected.

Kelly’s success led her to be part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Young Performers Program in 2023.

“I loved being a part of that program,” she said. “I got to meet so many friends during that program […] and musicians that inspire me.”

She added, “it was my first time at Winnipeg Folk Festival, so that was really just a humongous opportunity to be a part of the festival […] One day, I would love to play as part of the lineup.”

Kelly’s sophomore album, To Be Clear, was released in October and centres on vulnerability and honesty. “It’s definitely my most vulnerable piece of work,” she said. “It’s a collection of stories, some are my own, some are other people’s stories.”

Kelly said that the songs on To Be Clear range from soft ballads to rock and to blues, and are in both English and French, all connected by the theme of vulnerability. She credited producer Jim Bryson, who has worked with her on both of her albums, with being a “guiding light” for the creative process.

Outside of music, Kelly enjoys journaling, reading and river surfing.

“I think [my hobbies] are things that really help me process everything that’s going on,” she explained. “It just helps me kind of wash off everything and filter through everything, and it’s just a really healing moment for me […] I think it’s really essential to make the time for those things, or else I’d lose who I am.”

Kelly’s creativity even extends to unique merchandise — Mia Kelly — a branded hot sauce. She was inspired by her friend and fellow musician who made and sold honey with much success. Kelly knew she could do something similar.

“I love hot sauce, I have hot sauce in my purse, that’s how much I love hot sauce,” Kelly raved. “I partnered with this Ottawa-based hot sauce company, and we started making this Mia Kelly hot sauce.”

The hot sauce label features Kelly, river surfing with her guitar and has sold well. Kelly has said that it has been a great talking point at the merchandise table.

Coming up, Kelly has plans to record new songs over the winter and continue touring in Canada, with hopes to connect with new audiences in Canada and the United Kingdom.

“I’m really excited to just kind of keep it all moving,” she said.

Kelly’s sophomore album, To Be Clear, is available now. Information on upcoming shows can be found at miakellymusic.com.